NetHack

[dex]

Apr 27, 2009 12:22:58 GMT -5 Al said:

What I think has me so captivated, though, is that the game has never killed me out of spite (if that makes sense). There's never been a Mario Kart moment, where I was running a perfect race but then two blue shells come out of nowhere in the final lap and I finish sixth. Every time I've died in Nethack, it's been because I was stupid or greedy or careless.

I see what you mean, but it can come pretty close to that. It depends on your attitude towards spoilers. If you know all the rules, fine.

But it seems anything but a few most basic rules are considered spoilers. Then arbitrary cruel stuff can happen like what happened to me (started playing when I saw this thread): I put some stuff in my Bag of Holding (not using any unidentified items) and *poof* 2/3 of my possessions are just gone. I didn't even know such a thing as Wand of Cancellation existed.

So what do you think: should one read a lot of wiki pages? With a clear or troubled conscience?

P.S.: I felt I needed more strength (Valkyrie) and followed the advice to carry stuff until stressed and pushing boulders. I burned through food so ridiculously fast I had to stop it before gaining anything at all.

Also, I think I need scrolls of identify and altars badly (to ascertain/improve B/U/C), but have found neither so far (Dlvl 8).

Those are my most urgent shouts to the sage veterans so far.

[dex]

May 1, 2009 11:27:28 GMT -5 PoolMan said:

All right, I downloaded it. Damn you guys!

Same here. Excellent story. (Rett's cleptomanic trollop, too.)

1) is there a way to SELL things? I'm picking up gems, I'm carrying weapons I can't use, all in the hopes that I can convert it into gold at a shop, but I can't figure out if there's a way to do this.

Drop your items (inside the shop (with a shopkeeper (who is alive (but no trying to kill you)))) and he will make you an offer.

3) the occasional lucky fountain aside, it seems pretty tough to get HP back. Am I missing something?

HP recharge slowly with time. I usually pass some time with searching in relatively safe spaces. Edit: You can also #pray. (Check wiki, it's dicey.) And there's magic. E.g. I used to have a found potion of healing.

[dex]

Oh, also: "Female Monk"? Wouldn't that be a "Nun"? Or maybe they're thinking of the Hilary Swank type...

Oh, and also also: Hattrick!

[Rett Mikhal]

May 1, 2009 11:27:28 GMT -5 PoolMan said:

1) is there a way to SELL things? I'm picking up gems, I'm carrying weapons I can't use, all in the hopes that I can convert it into gold at a shop, but I can't figure out if there's a way to do this.

This isn't covered in the help, but it's quite simple. Just drop an item whilst inside a shop. If the shopkeeper isn't interested, it isn't his bag. You can't sell weapons in a food shop, for example.

May 1, 2009 11:27:28 GMT -5 PoolMan said:

2) is identifying objects supposed to be so rare and difficult? In ten games, I've found one identifying spell, and I have to imagine the farther you get into a game, the less likely you are to just drink a potentially fatal potion to see what it does.

Yes. It's part of the mystery and adventure and willingness to want to bash things.... repeatedly...

However, there are many different tricks to identifying things:

First off, if you drop something onto an alter it will tell you if it is blessed, uncursed, or cursed. Not only will the game indicate it, but the item WILL be identified in your inventory as B/U/C.

Failing that, shop keepers are smart. Attempting to sell a less valuable ring like Protection from Shape Changers will net you around 100, whereas a valuable ring of Teleport Control is more expensive at 150. This works even if it is not ID'd and for all types of items.

Finally, there are many tricks of the trade to identify things. Putting on an uncursed ring is always a safe bet, but putting on a non ID'd one can be dangerous. If you find two rings of identical make, drop one down a sink. The message will give you a hint of what it does.

With wands, the easiest way to ID them is to zap them, but that can be dangerous. The safest way is simply to use them with the Engrave command (E) and write something like Elbereth in the dirt. This will give you a message as to what the wand does, or at least a clue. If it doesn't, try zapping a potion and a monster at the same time (to converse charges.) A wand of teleport will make both disappear, wand of make invisible will make the monster invisible and a wand of cancellation will neutralize the potion.

May 1, 2009 11:27:28 GMT -5 PoolMan said:

3) the occasional lucky fountain aside, it seems pretty tough to get HP back. Am I missing something?

Carve 'Elbereth' on the dirt and stay there, then hold down the period key and rest until you are healed. Your pet can usually take care of itself. If you have nothing to write with, go into a shop or just a room with a door and close it. If you see the door open you know you're not alone. A ring of Regeneration will make you gain one HP every turn and is very valuable.

May 1, 2009 11:54:31 GMT -5 dex said:

Apr 27, 2009 12:22:58 GMT -5 Al said:

What I think has me so captivated, though, is that the game has never killed me out of spite (if that makes sense). There's never been a Mario Kart moment, where I was running a perfect race but then two blue shells come out of nowhere in the final lap and I finish sixth. Every time I've died in Nethack, it's been because I was stupid or greedy or careless.

I see what you mean, but it can come pretty close to that. It depends on your attitude towards spoilers. If you know all the rules, fine.

But it seems anything but a few most basic rules are considered spoilers. Then arbitrary cruel stuff can happen like what happened to me (started playing when I saw this thread): I put some stuff in my Bag of Holding (not using any unidentified items) and *poof* 2/3 of my possessions are just gone. I didn't even know such a thing as Wand of Cancellation existed.

So what do you think: should one read a lot of wiki pages? With a clear or troubled conscience?

P.S.: I felt I needed more strength (Valkyrie) and followed the advice to carry stuff until stressed and pushing boulders. I burned through food so ridiculously fast I had to stop it before gaining anything at all.

Also, I think I need scrolls of identify and altars badly (to ascertain/improve B/U/C), but have found neither so far (Dlvl 8).

Those are my most urgent shouts to the sage veterans so far.

I have nothing against reading the wiki. The game is so amazingly in depth and well thought out that even in Debug mode it would take you years to try everything. Plus, some of the messages and clues are so obscure you really need help with them.

I've already discussed a few ways to identify items, but remember your pet is the best asset because it is always there. Pets don't like to step on cursed items and will never pick up a cursed item.